Roland released Version 3 software for its MV-8000 platform and the G-70 music workstation, among other items, at the recent NAMM Convention.
With linear-based recording already established on the MV, Roland has added a complete pattern-style composing mode. Users can layer up to 64 tracks “drum machine-style” within each pattern, chain up to 500 patterns together per project using the pads or via step writing, or combine up to 128 linear tracks with patterns.
The Drum-Grid editor can be used to create beats in a familiar grid/matrix window, and can be used with the MV-8000’s external VGA and mouse capability. Audio waveforms and other essential track data can be visually edited as well.
A new feature on the MV-8000 is its internal analog-modeled bass synthesizer, which can be played from the MV’s own trigger pads or via MIDI. Version 3 also includes two oscillators, multimode resonant filter, LFO, envelope follower, ring and cross modulation, delay, chorus, portamento, and more.
BMP or JPG files can be loaded into the MV-8000 for playback on an external VGA monitor from the MV’s pads.
The Roland G-70’s sound engine uses the largest internal .WAV ROM in Roland keyboard history, and boasts numerous sounds from the Roland library, including piano sound, along with full 128-note polyphony. As an option, new sounds can be added via SRX expansion boards. The G-70’s arranger section includes 285 new styles with intelligent chord-voicing technology, each containing four variations, four intros, four endings, and six fill-ins.
The G-70’s keyboard features a weighted, professional action with aftertouch, which has a longer stroke and a more natural, responsive feel. Its full-color touch screen display combines with an icon-based operating system to allow users to manipulate a wide variety of musical and sound-control information, such as 3D representations of virtual drawbars, 4-stave musical scores, chord charts and lyrics. Chord and lyric data can be viewed on an external TV screen using the video output.
Organ players can tap into the expressive power of the G-70 thanks to its Virtual ToneWheel technology, which has been ported from Roland’s popular VK organ range. Nine front-panel sliders correspond to the 3D Virtual Harmonic Bars on the G-70’s full-color LCD.
There are seven independent effects sections on the G-70, including dedicated sections for the Harmonic Bars, Harmonist and the External Audio Input. Mastering tools derived from Roland’s VS digital recording line are also included. The Vocal Harmonist on the G-70 has over 90 different settings, including many additional effects and features such as Auto Pitch Correct and Vocoder.
The G-70 is equipped with a 16-track sequencer and internal style composer that can be edited in precise detail using the Microscope edit functions. Additional features include Music Assistant database, which automatically selects musically correct sounds, Styles, tempos, and effects for the hundreds of onboard songs.
For more information, visit www.rolandus.com.
For more new product announcements, visit http://mixonline.com/products/new/.
